OBJECTIVES: With the increased use of computed tomography (CT) in clinics, dose reduction is the most important feature people seek when considering new CT techniques or applications. We developed an intensity-weighted region-of-interest (IWROI) imaging method in an exact half-fan geometry to reduce the imaging radiation dose to patients in cone-beam CT (CBCT) for image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). While dose reduction is highly desirable, preserving the high-quality images of the ROI is also important for target localization in IGRT. METHODS: An intensity-weighting (IW) filter made of copper was mounted in place of a bowtie filter on the X-ray tube unit of an on-board imager (OBI) system such that the filter can substantially reduce radiation exposure to the outer ROI. In addition to mounting the IW filter, the lead-blade collimation of the OBI was adjusted to produce an exact half-fan scanning geometry for a further reduction of the radiation dose. The chord-based rebinned backprojection-filtration (BPF) algorithm in circular CBCT was implemented for image reconstruction, and a humanoid pelvis phantom was used for the IWROI imaging experiment. RESULTS: The IWROI image of the phantom was successfully reconstructed after beam-quality correction, and it was registered to the reference image within an acceptable level of tolerance. Dosimetric measurements revealed that the dose is reduced by approximately 61% in the inner ROI and by 73% in the outer ROI compared to the conventional bowtie filter-based half-fan scan. CONCLUSIONS: The IWROI method substantially reduces the imaging radiation dose and provides reconstructed images with an acceptable level of quality for patient setup and target localization. The proposed half-fan-based IWROI imaging technique can add a valuable option to CBCT in IGRT applications.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Copper ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Methods ; Pelvis ; Radiation Exposure ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided*

Gamma irradiator is widely used for cell, animal experiment, irradiation for blood, dose measurement, and education. Biobeam8000 gamma irradiator (STS Steuerungstechnik &. Strahlenschutz GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany, Cs137, 81.4 TBq) that KIRAMS (Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Science) has is a irradiation device that enables to be used in large-capacity of 7.5 L and extensive area. Cs-137 source moves range of 24 cm back-and-forth in a regular cycle in beaker for uniform irradiation and a beaker that puts a specimen like existing radiation irradiator such as Gammacell3000 rotates 360degrees during irradiation. Precise dose information according to the location of radiation source would be needed because of the movement of radiation source, whereas radiation could be uniformly irradiated in comparison with existing gamma irradiator. In this study, dose distribution of the inside beaker located in Biomeam8000 gamma irradiator was measured using glass dosimeter, and dose evaluation and distribution regarding dose linearity and dose reproducibility were implemented based on measurement results. This aims to show guideline for efficient use of irradiator based on measurement result when doing experiment or radiation exposure.
Animal Experimentation ; Germany ; Glass

Our goal is to assess the suitability of a glass dosimeter on detection of high-energy electron beams for clinical use, especially for radiation therapy. We examined the dosimetric characteristics of glass dosimeters including dose linearity, reproducibility, angular dependence, dose rate dependence, and energy dependence of 5 different electron energy qualities. The GD was irradiated with high-energy electron beams from the medical linear accelerator andgamma rays from a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. All irradiations were performed in a water phantom. The result of the dose linearity for high-energy electron beams showed well fitted regression line with the coefficient of determination; R2 of 0.999 between 6 and 20 MeV. The reproducibility of GDs exposed to the nominal electron energies 6, 9, 12, 16, and 20 MeV was +/-1.2%. In terms of the angular dependence to electron beams,GD response differences to the electron beam were within 1.5% for angles ranging from 0degrees to 90degrees and GD's maximum response differencewas 14% lower at 180degrees. In the dose rate dependence, measured dose values were normalized to the value obtained from 500 MU/min. The uncertainties of dose rate were measured within +/-1.5% except for the value from 100 MU/min. In the evaluation of the energy dependence of the GD at nominal electron energies between 6 and 20 MeV, we obtained lower responses between 1.1% and 4.5% based on cobalt-60 beam. Our results show that GDs have a considerable potentiality for measuring doses delivered by high-energy electron beams.
Electrons ; Feasibility Studies ; Glass ; Particle Accelerators ; Water

The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility of Vertical Multileaf Collimator for determination of irradiation size using Vertical Multileaf Collimator and lead block to determine 4 different irradiation shape in case of Co-60 gamma-ray and 6 MV X-ray. We chose ion chamber, glass dosimeter and EBT chromic film to compare with Vertical Multileaf Collimator results and lead block results. In case of Co-60 gamma-ray and 6 MV X-ray, the central axis point dose normalized at reference field of lead block with ion chamber results for Vertical Multileaf Collimator were estimated higher than lead block about 5.1%, 4.2%. In case of Co-60 gamma-ray, the central axis point dose normalized at reference field of lead block with glass dosimeter results for Vertical Multileaf Collimator were estimated higher than lead block about 2.2%, 7.8%, 7.2%, 4.0% for reference, circle, triangle, cross field, respectively. In case of 6 MV X-ray, the central axis point dose normalized at reference field of lead block with glass dosimeter results for Vertical Multileaf Collimator were estimated higher than lead block about 6.7%, 6.2%, 3.8%, 6.2% for reference, circle, triangle, cross field, respectively. The results of EBT chromic film, Vertical Multileaf Collimator of penumbra size for all irradiation shape was smaller than lead block of those size that 2.0~3.5 mm for Co-60 gamma-ray, 0.5~1.0 mm for 6 MV X-ray. The results from this study, radiation treatment volume that results in shielding block can be minimized. In addition, during radiation treatment for 2, 3-dimensional radiation therapy using a Vertical Multileaf Collimator of this survey can be used to determine variety of irradiation fields.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Feasibility Studies ; Glass